Genesis 27-29 & Psalm 10

Genesis 27-29

Remember in Genesis 25, Rebekah gave birth to twin sons.  The oldest-Esau was hairy.   The younger-Jacob was grasping the heel of the firstborn.  It is said that Rebekah favored her younger son.  We also read that God was going to bless Jacob and make him the family leader.  This is contrary to the culture-for in the East during this time (and still today), the oldest son will be the primary heir to the estate of the father as well will continue the leadership of the family.  As Isaac prepares for his final breath, he must pronounce a blessing on the oldest son which will seal the confirmation that he will be the heir and leader of the family.  Rebekah over hears what is happening and devises a plan to accomplish God's plan her own way.  This is not right.  I love how the bible seems to show people's flaws as well as successes.  It shows me that the Bible is truly real, for if it was fiction, why would someone want to insert their flaws?

We see the consequences of Jacob's sin.  When he lied and deceived his father, his consequences were: 1) He never will see his mother again for he is sent away to his uncle Laban; 2) his brother wants to kill him; 3) he will be deceived by his uncle Laban as we will see; 4) his family is now torn by strife; and 5) Esau will become the father of a nation that Israel will be enemies with.  

Jacob will leave to find the place of his uncle Laban's home.  It is the same place that Abraham grew up.  Along the way, he stops for the night and makes camp.  In his sleep, he has a dream-of which God is pronouncing the same blessing/promise on Jacob that he gave to Isaac and Abraham.  Therefore, God has chosen to bring his nation of people through Abraham-Isaac-and Jacob.  

We find in Genesis 29 a true love story.  As Jacob finds love at first sight with Rachel, he makes a contract with his uncle Laban.  It is custom for men of this time to prepare a "dowry" to present to the new in-laws as a gift to compensate with the "financial" loss of their daughter.  It was a substantial financial gift sometimes valuing years of labor.  Jacob left home without bringing a dowry, so his "dowry" was 7 years labor.  However, there was another custom that Jacob was not familiar with.  Fathers always gave their oldest daughter in marriage before the younger.  Therefore Jacob is deceived in to marrying Leah before Rachel.  They all (Jacob and his two wives) started their family-Leah having 4 children so far and Rachel remaining barren.  

Psalm 10 

Have you ever wondered this question David opens up with God?  "O Lord, Why do you stand so far off?  Why do You hide when I need You most?"  It's a question I have wrestled with.  Although this Psalm seems a bit morbid and not so much an uplifting Psalm, it does reflect the thoughts we sometimes have when evil people succeed.  "Why does God allow them to succeed when the righteous are suffering?"  It's a question we have all asked.  The answer is not given here.  However, there seems to be a combination of both request for God's presence in this time and a trust that God is in control.  This is a good reminder to me that when times are difficult--I need to do two things: 1) I need to cry out to God. 2) I need to trust God to be in control.  

Genesis 24-26 & Psalm 9

Genesis 24-26

Genesis 24 depicts the choosing of a wife for Abraham's son Isaac.  It is a far cry for how we get married today.  Rebekah was a third cousin to Isaac.  Do you notice how God worked through circumstance?  In the little things, Abraham's servant stopped and worshiped God.  I find it a rewarding thing to notice God working in the little things.  How one person opens up and begins to understand God; how someone's attitude changes; how things fall into place perfectly. Granted it was no miracle, but I know that it could not have happened without God's working.  Start noticing God working in the small things--it will bless you!  

Genesis 26 opens with the very same promise from God to Abraham found in Genesis 12.  The promise of a great nation coming from them continues through the family line.  So far, we know that God will bring His chosen nation through Abraham and through Isaac.  

Can you believe that Isaac continues in the same pattern of sin that his father did by lying about their wives?  Evidently Abraham didn't share his mistakes with his sin to help him learn from his mistakes.  

 

Psalm 9

The heading in my Bible says that this Psalm was a song of praise written probably after David and the Israelites won victory over the Philistines (when David killed Goliath).  As David praises God, I can't help but read Psalm 9:1-2 with praise to God from my own heart.  What can you praise God for that overwhelms your heart with thanks?  

David speaks of God being a fair judge.  After returning from a basketball game, the officials of the game made some calls that I would not call "just".  This is not a worry with God, for God always rules and judges with justice!  In addition to His awesome justice, God also is a God of mercy (Psalm 9:13).  

David prays that God will make the men who are his enemies know that "they are mere human".  We need to get this in our own heads sometimes:  God is GOD and I am not.  He is ruler of all and over all.  God is in charge.  Too many times I have attempted to take complete control and I need to be reminded that "I am mere human".  God is God.  He will have His will be done.  

Genesis 21-23 & Psalm 8

Genesis 21-23

Did you catch the awesomeness of the opening sentence of Genesis 21:1--Read it again!  Does that give you reason to trust in God?  Isaac is born just as God had promised Abraham and Sarah; and, Abraham was 100 years old. Isaac now is the rightful heir to Abraham's inheritance. And so it is Sarah's request that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away so that Isaac will not be improperly treated.  

Have you ever endured something and thought that God was testing you?  It is possible.  The tests that God use are not intended to trip you up and watch you fall.  God is not mean.  Rather God tests His children to see how obedient they will be.  God never intended for Abraham to kill his son Isaac.  God wanted to know that Abraham valued God the most and that his obedience was complete.  When it comes to your most cherished in your life-your children-do you love them more than you love God?  Truly?  This is a principle that God wants us all to know.  Love God, first and foremost above all else.  How do we do that?  Trust God completely with everything!  Read His word.  Pray to Him always.  And always obey what He says.  When you do, God will always provide, just like He did for Abraham.  

More than 40 years after she had given birth to Isaac, Sarah died at the age of 127.  This is relatively young in this time period.  After all we have seen people live as long as 900 years old and even older.  After all that she and Abraham had been through, this was a terrible loss for Abraham and a proper and respectful burial was in order-and price was no option.  Abraham honored his wife well with her burial.  

Psalm 8

In the opening words of Psalm 8, God is referred to as "O Lord, OUR Lord..." (NLT).  At least that is the words my Bible uses.  This possessive pronoun "OUR" leads me to worship with the Psalmist because God is not only David's "Lord"; but, God is also MY LORD!  Can you praise God for being YOUR Lord today?  Psalm 8:2 speaks of children and babies giving God praise.  How would you interpret this?  Perhaps it speaks of the child-like faith that children possess.  How a little child can completely trust in their parents without reservations...like this little child, we too should have faith in OUR Lord!  As you read Psalm 8:3-9, picture Genesis 1 and the wonder of God's creation.  Compared to the universe and all that God created, what is man?  But God considers humans to be His chief creation!  A little lower than the angels and told to have care for all of creation.  The Psalm ends with a parenthesis statement: It begins with "O Lord, OUR Lord..." and it ends with "O Lord, OUR Lord!"  Such a wonderful song to sing to God!  Try beginning your prayer time today with "O Lord, MY LORD!"  

Genesis 18-20 & Psalm 7

Genesis 18-20

Genesis 18 opens with the event of the foretelling of Abraham and Sarah's son.  As three men (whom one of them are often referred to as "the Lord") ate the food that Abraham so hospitably had prepared for them, they shared with him that in one year, Sarah will give birth. Sarah overheard this announcement and laughed at the thought because at their age, it was physically impossible to give birth.  However, we know by faith (as well as it is said here) that "nothing is too hard for the Lord" (Genesis 18:14) for "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength" (Philippians 4:13).  

The conversation with Abraham and the Lord in Genesis 18:16-33 is quite interesting.  It reminds me of the age old question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  God is God and nothing is too hard for Him!  However, we live in an evil world where vil runs free.  The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were incredibly wicked.  All kinds of immoral sexual acts were performed with no moral boundaries (as we see in Genesis 19:5).  Due to their incessant evil, God considers destroying the cities.  The Great Flood had to be on Abraham's mind when he heard the Lord suggest it.  The Flood was no more than 400 years ago and at Abraham's age of 100, his forefathers were from the Ark.  So he begins to question if God would destroy innocent people.  Is Abraham attempting to change God's mind?  I doubt that.  However, it has been suggested before that God was rather changing Abraham's mind.  Abraham knew that God was just-he will punish sin.  However, maybe Abraham was doubting somewhat the mercy of God.  God used this as an opportunity to teach Abraham just how God's mercy really works.  Just as we pray, we are not going to change God's mind through our prayers.  Rather, when we pray, we come in tune with God's mind and that changes ours too! 

Genesis 19, we see striking similarities between the hospitality of Abraham and Lot.  Perhaps this is a way they were brought up?  It is also a cultural mentality to take the utmost care and protection of guests.  We see this obvious fact when the town's perverts wanted to molest the visitors.  Lot rather offers them his daughters.  Such a dreadful thing!  This suggests the evil that was rampant in the city.  At his defense, could Lot be plotting because he knew they were homosexual, they would not want his daughters?  Whatever the case, the sin of the city is obvious!  

God's mercy spared the only innocent people in the city-Lot's family.  As they ran from the city, Lot's wife looked back and it killed her.  Have you turned back to your former life before Christ and longingly looked to your sin?  If so, God cannot compete with your former way of life.  Jesus said Himself, "No one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24).  The sin however, did rub off onto Lot's daughters.  Their actions of having sex with their father shows of their upbringing in a sinful environment.  As parents, we must attempt to raise our children in the Lord-even in a sinful environment.  A note is given that their sons became the fathers of the nations called Moab and Ammon.  These tow nations became pagan worshipping nations that Israel later defeated (Judges 3).  The pagan god they worshipped was the god called Moelch who was worshipped an offering of burning little children.   Do you see how sin can evil can spread through the generations if it is not caught and dealt with now!  

Genesis 21 is another instance of Abraham using his own means for getting out of trouble.  However, God delivered him and saved him once again.  God usually doesn't reward us for our attempt to do life on our own; however, God will always see us through-even if we have to endure some trials along the way for attempting to do life without involving Him.  No matter how much we love God, temptation does happen.  We all have our own personal weaknesses; trust God in those times of weakness when you know you are especially vulnerable to sin.  

Psalm 7

This Psalm falls chronologically before David is king of Israel.  The heading of the Psalm makes reference to "Cush of the tribe of Benjamin".  This is probably one of the officers of King Saul's army (Saul was king before David) who was pursuing David to kill him because David was accused of attempting to kill king Saul (1 Samuel 24:9-11).  Therefore, this Psalm is written out of a heart that has been wrongly accused of a crime.  Have you ever been wrongly accused?  Has anyone ever falsely blamed you for something?  Doesn't that produce a vengeful feeling inside of you?  "Wait until I get back at them..."  Instead of having that mentality, David cries out to God!  He petitions God to be the judge and to be the issue a sentence of punishment for their wrong-doing.  Psalm 7:9 says, "For you look deep within the mind and heart O righteous God" (NLT).  No matter what, God sees what is inside.  He knows what you think.  He knows you inner feelings.  He knows your motives.  You cannot hide from God!  Have you attempted to hide something from someone because you didn't want them to find you out?  You cannot do that with God!  Psalm 7:12-16 tells us that those whose sin will eventually be allowed to run its course and its evil will eventually destroy itself.  Those who are violent will die of violence; those who are liars will eventually become victims of others' deceit.  And finally Psalm 7:17 tells us that when we pray for God to be just when we have been unjustly treated, we should follow David's example and thank God when we turn to Him!  

Day of Reflection

Reflection

Today is a day to reflect on a passage that you read but thought, "I really would like to spend some more time in."  Perhaps it's a Psalm that you would like to pray through or a verse you would like to memorize.  Maybe it is a particular event in Genesis you want to re-read.  Or maybe you missed a day or got started a day late due to the holiday so you want to use today as a catch-up day.  Whatever it is, I want to hear about it.  So whatever you are reflecting on today, post a comment and tell me what it is!  Also, tell me what you are thinking so far as you have completed the first week of reading your Bible!  51 more weeks to go!  

Genesis 15-17 & Psalm 6

Genesis 15-17

Abram would love to think that God will make his family into a great nation; but, there is just one minor problem: He has no children!  Abram and his wife Sarai were barren from having children.  So all of Abram's possessions will have to left as an inheritance to his highest servant. But God told him otherwise.  God took Abram out to the clear night sky and said your children will be an innumerable as the stars in the sky.  To seal the promise, God offered a "covenant" with Abram.  A covenant is known as a promise that is between unequal parties.  For example a king and a servant; or, God and man.  The covenant was sealed by the sacrifice of animals. There is a prophecy spoken by God in Genesis 15:13-16: Abram's family will be enslaved by a great nation for 400 years.  This is a direct prophecy concerning the slavery of the Hebrew people by Egypt in the book of Exodus in which Moses sets them free.  

Genesis 16 shows us that Abram is not a perfect man.  Soon after he had heard the promise from God that he will have a son, he listens to his wife who says she will never have a son.  They attempted to solve the problem by human means rather than by God's means.  He married another wife-Sarai's servant woman-and had a son through her.  This soon led Sarai to resent her servant woman deeply.  So she mistreated her which caused the young servant woman to run away.  As she ran, an angel of the Lord appeared to her and asked why she way running. Running from our problems rarely solves them.  And so, the angel told her that God was going to bless her with descendants to numerous to count.  Christian scholars suggest that this is in reference to the nations of Islam.  The son is to be names Ishmael and he will be as a "wild donkey which will never get along with his brothers-they will always be at odds".  And so she returned home.  Abram was 86 years old when his first son was born.

About 13 years later, God appeared to Abram and God renewed His covenant with Abram.  He said to Abram that he will be the father to many nations.  So he changed his name from Abram to Abraham which translates in Hebrew to mean "the father of many nations."  This was God's part of the covenant.  Abraham's part of the covenant was that each male in his household and of his descendents must be circumsised on the eighth day of his birth.  In addition, Sarai's name was changed to Sarah which translates in Hebrew to mean "Princess of the nations."  Abraham laughed at the thought of a hundred year old man and a ninety year old woman being able to conceive a child.  Understand the people during this time lived much longer lives; however, 90 years then is just as long as 90 years is today.  The child-bearing years would also have been created the same as God creates them today.  God promises a son born from Sarah and he will be names Isaac-which translates from Hebrew to mean "He laughs."  It just goes to show that God has a sense of humor to remind Abraham all the days of his life his doubting God.  Don't ever doubt God.  He will lead you, and you ought to follow!  Your life will be richly blessed because of it! 

Psalm 6

This is the first of seven "penitential" Psalms (Psalms speaking of repentance).  It again finds King David crying out to God for mercy and protection from his enemies.  The thrust of the Psalm is a crying out to God to rescue him from the anguish he is currently in.  What anguish could this be?  Perhaps David is still referring to the oppression from his enemies who are attempting to overthrow his kingdom?  Maybe David has been caught in some sort of sin that has left him in the anguish of guilt.  We all know the guilt that sin can bring us in spiritually before God.  Whatever it be that David is battling within, he cries out to God to not "discipline him in anger or rage" (Psalm 6:1).  Have you found yourself in a situation where you have cried out to God for mercy in a situation that you felt was too difficult to bear?  If so, did you continue your crying out to God? Or did you give up?  One thing we will find out about David is that he is consistent in his search for God in his trials and troubles.     

Genesis 12-14 & Psalm 5

Genesis 12-14

The book of beginnings (Genesis) will now take a center stage focus on one man and his family-Abraham.  Before he received the promise from God, his name was Abram.  God told Abram to leave his hometown and go to a place which He will be told of later.  Okay, so what if God told you to make a drastic change in your life without clear direction?  Would your faith be strong enough to follow?  The distance that Abram and his family traveled from his hometown in Ur to the land that God had promised him (Canaan) was nearly 1000 miles.  They would have traveled on foot or camel.  It would have been a long journey.  As they traveled, Abram too regular opportunity to stop, build an alter, and worship God.  

Abram's fear of the Egyptian Pharaoh caused him to lie.  How many times have we been caught in this position?  This lie was a half-truth.  In Genesis 20:12 we will discover that Sarai was Abram's half-sister (same father but different mothers).  Nonetheless, she was still his wife.  Due to Pharaoh's unknowingly wrongdoing, God sent a severe illness upon Pharaoh and his whole house-hold.  When he discovered the truth, Pharaoh let the leave-he just sent them out as soon as he could.  

Abram and his nephew Lot were incredibly wealthy with silver, gold, and cattle.  So much cattle, that the land would not support their great number.  So Abram offered to Lot to choose which land he would choose.  Wouldn't it have been obvious which land he would have chosen?  Was Abram testing Lot and his level of respect he had for his uncle's family?  Or was Abram truly trusting for God to provide?  Whatever the case, God continued his promise to Abram that everywhere the eye can see will one day by the home to Abram's descendants.  Again, Abram built an alter to worship God.

Then war broke out in the land where Lot had chosen to live and Lot had been captured along with all of his wealth.  Abram heard the news and collected all of the men born into his household (all of the male servants and herdsmen) and put together an army of 318 men.  Se set out and successfully rescued Lot and all of his possessions.  

Psalm 5

It is interesting how so many of the Psalms that King David wrote make reference to his enemies.  I am sure that a nation's king would have many enemies.  Especially those who seek to overthrow his kingdom.  It is also interesting that amidst so many enemies, David continues his steadfast devotion and trust in God.  How can we learn from that?  Psalm 5:2 reads loud for me: "Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I will never pray to anyone but you."  I take this verse but literally and figuratively.  Literally I will pray to no other god.  Figuratively, I will offer my devotion solely to God.  Such a deep devotion is required to make that statement.  How many times have I "prayed" to the god of money?  How many times have I given time to the god of worry?  So many "gods" in our modern world can steal our devotion from our Almighty God!  What can we do this year to prevent this from happening?  Perhaps our commitment to reading God's word this year is a start!

Psalm 5:3 speaks of an early morning appointment with God.  Today I am reading God's word at night because of an abnormally busy day.  However, there is such value in reading and praying early in the morning.  Your days worries have not yet found you.  Your mind is fresh from a night's rest.  The rest of the world is still in slumber and you can completely focus all of your attention on God.  I highly encourage a morning devotion time.  I myself will attempt to recommit to that as well.